Ukraine gets green light for Euro 2012

Updated: Tuesday, 27 Sep 2011 22:42

Michel Platini was hugely encouraged by the improvements he witnessed in Ukraine

UEFA president Michel Platini has declared Ukraine ready to co-host Euro 2012 next summer with only a few "minor problems" still to be solved.

The head of European football's governing body last year expressed his concerns that Ukraine, which will co-host the tournament with Poland, was behind schedule in the building of stadiums and other infrastructure.

However, the Frenchman told uefa.com after completing a two-day tour of the four Ukrainian host cities: "We see great progress with the infrastructure, stadiums.

"There are still some minor problems [in each host city] but together we will cope with them. At the next meeting of the UEFA executive committee I will tell the members that Ukraine is doing fine with the preparations."

Platini's tour began with a visit to the new airport terminal in Lviv, the westernmost of the host cities.

"I can see significant improvements. The local authorities have done a great job here," he said.

He was similarly impressed by improvements made to Donetsk airport, before the tour moved on to the city's Donbass Arena, home of Shakhtar Donetsk.

In Kharkiv, he visited the airport's new VIP facilities and temporary terminals and said: "I do not see any big problems in Kharkiv relating to Euro preparations. There are minor ones that will be solved. The city's airport is fine, the stadium is great. Transport is a point on the list that needs a little bit more focus."

Platini's tour concluded in the capital Kiev, where work on the Olympic Stadium is close to completion.